Invasive Plant Details
Back to Full ListCommon Comfrey
Latin Name: Symphytum officinale
Identification
Flower: Bell-shaped, purple, pink, or white flowers that bloom from late spring to midsummer.
Leaves: Large, lance-shaped leaves that are rough and hairy.
Stems: Erect, thick, and covered with stiff hairs, growing up to 1 meter tall.
Growing Environment: Prefers moist, fertile soils in gardens, ditches, and along streambanks.
Growth Habit: A perennial herb that grows from a deep taproot, forming dense clumps of large, rough (hairy) leaves. It spreads through rhizomes and can form large colonies. In situ, common comfrey often creates a dense, leafy mass in moist areas, with clusters of bell-shaped flowers on tall stalks.
Impacts on Environment
Impacts: Moderately invasive in moist areas, where it can form dense colonies.
